Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome back to another school year. It has been excellent to see all the children again and to welcome our new Kindergarten students and our new students in Grades 1 – 6. We have 38 new Kinder students and 30 new students in Grades 1 – 6. I would like to particularly welcome our new families: Abraham, Aguilera, Batley, Bull, Chavez Leveroni, Ciancio, De Valentin, Dingwall, Dorji, Edwards, Garg, Geary, Gorham, Gutierrez, Harrison, Holm, Howker, Ibrahim, Johnson, King, Kingson, Lotfy, Marshall, Martin, Martin (there are two new Martin families), McMahon, Mhike, Miller, Murray, Nehme, Park, Ransom, Rogers, Sharma, Sindhu, Soda, Sreesan, Sullivan, Tam, Thompson, Tomy, Upton, Wright, Wynants and Yaqub.

I would also like to welcome back to school all of our staff and in particular, our new staff. New to Sts Peter and Paul are:

• Anna Williams, Assistant Principal
• Jessica Gowing, Kindergarten
• Joshua Gereis, Year 3/4
• Katie McGregor, Year 5
• Michael Washington, Year 5
• Maddie Winter, Classroom Support Assistant and School Welfare Officer
• Mel Harding, Classroom Support Assistant

Returning to Sts Peter and Paul after a year’s maternity leave are:

• Stephanie Burns, Religious Education Officer, Maths Extension (Years 5 & 6) and Kindergarten.
• Laura Lamerton, School Counsellor

I welcome all of our new and returning staff. They are an extremely talented group of educators and will make invaluable contributions to the lives of the children.

COVID

Last week Anna Williams and I hosted two meetings with parents, via Teams, that attempted to explain the 2022 school operations considering the ongoing COVID infection rates across the ACT. A letter was also sent home from me that detailed the new arrangements as well as confirming the ongoing arrangements, that have continued from Term 4 last year. Please note, in particular, the following arrangements:

• On Monday afternoon, we sent home a RAT for each child in the school; enough for each student to be tested twice this week. I encourage all parents to test their children accordingly, and if anyone returns a positive result, to please inform the school. More RAT will be sent home at the beginning of the second week.
• COVID exposures (that is, children exposed to a COVID case) will be published each day to the school community. New cases will be published. The numbers given each day will be not be cumulative cases in a particular grade or the entire school, as directed by Catholic Education.
• In terms of school operations, classes will be managed on a case-by-case basis. In simple terms, if a child has a positive result, they isolate for 7 days, and if possible, continue work from home. Teachers are being released this week to arrange for home packs to be created, containing work relevant to each grade’s Term 1 program. If a staff member returns a positive test, they will ideally be covered by a relief teacher, until they are well enough to return. In unusual circumstances, it may be that a class or grade must individually isolate at home and return to a Remote Learning Platform, for a week or 10 days. Parents will be advised accordingly. In the unlikely event of the school being closed due to an inability to run the school normally, due to COVID cases, the Director of Catholic Education would make the decision and advise the parents accordingly. I do not anticipate this happening.
• A reminder please that if your child returns a positive result to a RAT, they need to isolate for a minimum of 7 days. In order to return to school, they need to be symptom-free and return a negative result.
• Finally, a reminder of our carpark arrangements in the afternoon: Grades 3 – 6 children can be picked up at the car roundabout part of the carline; K – 2 students can be picked up at the yellow railing part of the carline, outside the Church. A reminder please that parents are to avoid coming onto the school grounds in the afternoon at the end of the day. If you need to physically come onto the grounds, please pick up your child before 3pm or after 3.30. If you would like to meet your child at the end of the day, please arrange to meet them away from the main part of the grounds e.g., on the grounds of the Church.

Thank you for all of your support in these matters.

Reconciliation PIN Night

A reminder that for parents of students in Year 3, who have children making his or her First Reconciliation this year, there will be a Parent Information Night next Monday, February 7^th, at 6pm. The meeting will be conducted via Zoom. Parents from Holy Trinity, Curtin, will also be joining us. A link to the meeting will be sent home shortly. My thanks to our Religious Education Coordinator, Stephanie Burns, for organising the night, and to Monsignor John Woods, for his support.

School PIN Night

Next Tuesday night at 6pm, there will be a Parent Information Night for all parents. The aim of the night is to provide an opportunity for parents to meet their child’s teacher or teachers, and to receive information regarding the term’s work and focus. The evening will be conducted via Teams. Links will be sent home to parents accordingly.

Schools’ Contact Officer

Finally, I would like to thank Sally Blacker, parent of 4 past and current students, who for many years has organised the Parent Contact Registry. Sally is stepping down from the role and I would like to thank Sally for her excellent work and dedication to the school. It is greatly appreciated. I am looking for a new volunteer. If you would like to volunteer to for the role, please contact the school, or me, directly. Sally is happy to assist in a handover.

Have a wonderful week with your families. I look forward to catching up with many of you over the coming days and weeks.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

This year at Sts Peter and Paul, we are all called to ‘Let Your Light Shine”

Welcome to 2022, and an extra special welcome to all the new families in our community. On a personal note, it is so lovely to be back at Sts Peter and Paul after being on Maternity Leave for 2021. Our theme for 2022 is “Let your Light Shine” from Matthew’s Gospel. Throughout the year, we will be looking at the ways we can let our light shine and share our gifts with those around us. On the topic of gifts, I want to publicly thank Fron Garrett-Rumba for her amazing work in the position of Religious Education Coordinator while I was on leave, we are blessed to have her and her many gifts at Sts Peter and Paul.

Our Sacramental preparations for 2022 will begin with a Reconciliation Parent Information Night next Monday 7^th February at 6:00 via Zoom. A link for this meeting will be sent out through Compass on Friday. If you are interested in being a ‘host’ for one of the Homegroups, we will be meeting online from 5:30pm, before the PIN to discuss what hosting entails.

Below is some information provided by Fr John regarding the Sacrament.

I am now inviting parents of baptised children in Year 3 (and above) to enrol them in the Parish’s Family-Based Sacramental Program for First Reconciliation. To enrol your child, please access or download the QKR! App.  Tap on ‘North Woden Transfiguration’, and tap ‘Sacraments’, fill in the form and make your online payment by Friday 4 February 2022.

The program is dependent on the generosity of some parents to host or to co-host a family group. The role of a host is not difficult. Hosts will be required to attend an Information Session at 5.30pm, prior to the 6pm Monday 7 February, Parent Information Night via Zoom.

Dates to remember:

• An Information session for Family Group Hosts only, 5.30pm, Monday, 7 February via Zoom.
• An Introductory Night for all Parents to receive an overview of the family sessions via Zoom at 6pm, Monday, 7 February.
• Four family group meetings
• Presentation Mass, 19/20 March (either Saturday 6pm or Sunday 9.30am at Holy Trinity)
• A children’s Retreat Day Friday 25 March. (TBC)
• Celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation will occur at the time you select on a Saturday, 4.30-5.00pm commencing 26 March. Details provided at the PIN.

Any enquiries can be directed to the Parish Office ( 6281 3999/  wodennorth@cg.org.au )

In other Sacramental news, many children from our Parish are continuing to celebrate their First Eucharist during Masses each weekend at Holy Trinity, and we would like to congratulate all these children and their families on this important step in their faith journeys.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C  Luke 5:1-11

In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus speaks to the crowd from Peter's boat. Jesus turns to Peter and tells him where to lower the fishing nets. Peter and the others have been fishing throughout the night and have not caught anything, so Peter protests, but ultimately obeys Jesus and lowers his nets into the deeper water as instructed.

Following Jesus’ direction, the men catch so many fish that the nets begin to tear; Jesus' presence has created abundance out of scarcity.

Peter becomes a follower of Jesus immediately. He calls Jesus “Lord”—the title given to Jesus after His Resurrection—and protests his worthiness to be in Jesus' presence. This event marks a turning point in the relationship between Jesus and Peter. It is here that Jesus gives Peter a new job, telling him that he will become a different kind of fisherman. No longer will he catch fish; instead he will catch people. In these words, we hear the beginning of the leadership role that Peter will have within the community of disciples. Peter was chosen for this role. His task will be to bring others to Jesus. Already he is doing so; the Gospel tells us that all the fishermen with Peter also left their nets and followed Jesus.

Blessings for the week ahead,

Stephanie Burns

Religious Education Coordinator

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who celebrated their birthday in January and to those who are celebrating their birthday this week.

James K

Gabriella S

Louis M

Eli M

Alasdair D

Harper DeS

Tracy C

Ariella J

Kai R

Harry C

Charlie S

Evie C

Arne C

Finn B

Willem F

Imogen C

Mark P

Matilda W

Shayden B

Maja G

Luka G

Shivika A

Aria N

Evelyn C

Charlotte H

Abby D

Alarna S

Ruby B

Viraj V

Audrey I

Ioanna M

Reuben T

CLASS	MERIT	MERIT	SPIRIT
KM	Liam T	Ivy K	Madison H
KW	Christopher K	Oliver B	Leah P
1M	Remy M	Reuben T	Selene A
1W	Joseph S	Jaden K	Abigail B
2M	Isaac K	Joseph N Chimi D	Grace W
2W	Alexis V	Cormac B	Hamish H
3/4B	David CL	Gabriella S	Dushan D
3/4M	Bethany T	Chiara C	Louis M
3/4W	Ayla B	Cameron B	Audrey I
5M	Tara W	Edwin A	Abigail W
5W	Dipali S	Kenso JJ	Ethan N
6M	Amelia S	Chloe U	Charlotte M
6W	Jordan G	Yezin D	Ava T

Principal's Award: Mrs Williams; Mrs Collis

Learning Support: (please note that LS awards are given to any child in the school that the Classroom Support Assistants have noticed doing something wonderful): 

  Abby E, 6M; Grace B, 2W

CONGRATULATIONS CHARLIE

Charlie W, 5W, represented the ACT at the National Club Futsal Championships in Brisbane over the holidays.  He had a great tournament scoring 3 goals and his team made him captain in the last game due his constant and caring approach. Congratulations Charlie, we are very proud of you.

Congratulations to Lucas S, 5M, who competed in the ACT Speedo Sprint swimming series at the AIS on the weekend and placed in the top 4 in the 50m backstroke event.  Lucas will now represent the ACT in Sydney in March.  Good luck Lucas!

THE CANTEEN IS CASHLESS

Families are required to make all canteen payments via Qkr!

 There will be no over-the-counter sales at lunch time at this stage.

All over-the-counter sale items (snacks & treats) must be ordered in your child’s lunch order via Qkr! which will be delivered to them at lunch time.

 CANTEEN REMINDERS

The canteen re opens tomorrow Thursday 3 Feb

• Please ensure your child’s class is updated on Qkr! This is to avoid their lunch order being misplaced.
• Due to current situation, Qkr! orders are available a day at a time (no advance ordering) orders must be placed by 8.45am
• If a lunch order has been placed, and your child is not at school please cancel the lunch order in your Qkr! activities. Flyer attached
• Canteen menu has a new look, please view menu below. It is also available on our school website.

 Thank you

Lauretta Raccosta,

Canteen

Lauretta.Raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

Welcome to 2022! I hope you all had a lovely break and are excited for a busy year ahead full of good books and wonderful literary adventures! 

Just a few things to get everyone started…

Library lessons have changed this year and are once a week for 1 hour. Please take note of your child or children’s library days and send them in with a Library Bag and any books to return. Kinder- Year 4 must have a Library Bag to borrow books to take home. 

• I am going to be in the Library Monday- Thursday. Should you have any questions please email me at amanda.basedow@cg.catholic.edu.au

• Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, the Library will not be open during Lunchtimes. 

• Scholastic book club will be running again this year. Issue 1 brochures will be coming home this week. Orders close Friday Week 3- 18th February. All orders are placed online- please note we do not accept cash or orders at school as all orders are placed online. Click here to access an online version: https://www.scholastic.com.au/book-club/book-club-parents/  
  

• Please remember that 20% of all sales go to our school Library. The money made will be used to purchase lots of new books for the Library, as well as prizes and awards for events during the year. Last year we were able to purchase over 500 books due to the amount of money raised from our Book Fair and Book Club sales! These are some of the books that were purchased at the end of last year. They have been covered over the holidays and are on the shelves ready for the students to borrow!  

Keep reading!

Mrs Basedow

If anyone has spare empty 4 litre icecream containers can you please send them into 2 White.

They will be used as compost bins.

Thank you

OPEN TUESDAY MORNINGS

8.30 – 9.30AM

 The Uniform Shop is a service for the parents and children.

 We sell New & Quality Second-hand school clothing, and all money raised goes back to the school to provide resources for the children.

 The Uniform Shop is available via Qkr!

On Tuesdays - Fridays, orders will be delivered to your child’s classroom. Orders need to be placed before 8.45 am. 

UNIFORM SHOP BOOKINGS

DUE TO COVID19, and with the need for physical distancing amongst adults the Uniform Shop will be appointment only on Tuesday mornings over the next coming weeks. Please click on the link below to book your time slot.

https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/UniformShop

A reminder that items order through QKR! will be delivered to your child’s classroom to be sent home

Please visit the schools website for the Summer Uniform price list.

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

CHAMPION CHEESE MUFFINS

Ingredients

2 cups grated cheese

1 & 1/2 cups self raising flower

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbps sugar

Pinch cayenne pepper

Handful garden herbs, chives or parsley

1 egg

1 cup milk

Method

Preheat oven to 210 degrees and grease a 12 hole muffin tin.

Place cheese, flour, salt, pepper and herbs into a larg bowl. Mix lightly with fingertips to combine.

Beat the egg and milk together in a small separate bowl.

Pour the wet mixture into the dry and fold together, taking care not to over mix.

Spoon mixture into prepared pan and bake for apporoximately 12 minutes or until the muffins spring back when pressed in the middle. 

Let's start the year (& get our brains into school mode) with a few brain teasers.

If you get stuck, Mrs P has the answers and can be contacted (and bribed) on anne.perkovic@cg.catholic.edu.au.

a) Billy’s mother had five children. The first was named Lala, the second was named Lele, the third was named Lili, the fourth was named Lolo. What was the fifth child named?

b) It’s as light as a feather, but the strongest person can’t hold it for more than five minutes. What is it?

c) The more there is, the less you see. What is it?

d) What gets more wet while it dries?

e) You can find it in Mercury, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, but not in Venus or Neptune. What is it?

f) You’re driving a city bus. At the first stop, three women get on. At the second stop, one woman gets off and a man gets on. At the third stop, two children get on. The bus is blue and it’s raining outside in December. What color is the bus driver’s hair?

a) The river crossing problem         

A farmer is traveling with a fox, a goose, and a bag of beans. During his journey, he comes across a river with a boat to cross it.The farmer can only fit one thing in the boat with him at a time. If left alone together, the fox will eat the goose or the goose will eat the beans. How does the farmer get everything across the river safely?